Decisions on academics in varsities will be taken keeping in mind interest of students: Partha
Kolkata: State Education minister Partha Chatterjee took to his Facebook page on Sunday and made it clear that his department will consult the universities before deciding on the academic calendar of the universities and its affiliated colleges in the state.
"We have received no letter either from the University Grants Commission or from the Ministry of Human Resource & Development. The state universities have sat together and have given some suggestions to the department. I want to make it clear that any decision about academics in the universities and colleges will be taken keeping in mind the larger interest of the students."
Chatterjee posted.
The minister's post assumes significance as a panel appointed by UGC has recommended that the academic session in universities and higher educational institutions can be started from September instead of July given the COVID-19 situation in the country. Two committees were constituted by the UGC to look into the issues of academic loss and online education in the wake of the lockdown in the country due to the Coronavirus pandemic.
All educational institutes in the state will remain closed till June 10, and the universities have decided to hold the final semester examination under the Choice Based Credit System (CBCS) after the institutions open.
Classes in colleges and universities in the state start by July but under the present COVID-19 situation when all educational institutions have closed down from March it is an impossible proposition.
According to HRD Ministry officials, the two reports will now be studied and official guidelines in this regard are expected to be notified by next
week.
Sources in the Education department said that the minister had posted the state government's stand so that there is no unnecessary confusion among
students regarding media reports on the academic session.
"We are in constant touch with the universities in this regard," he
posted.
